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Saturday, July 30, 2011

Here's a link for a great new free book for you: www.gfa.org/wm "Be among the first to read this gripping narrative that displays the redemptive power of God among the most fragile. This next great wave of transformation is changing the lives of children, their families and entire communities. Filled with riveting stories of God's redeeming love. Your heart will rejoice as you share in their triumph. This dynamic book will open your eyes to an amazing move of God."

I had a great birthday...worked from 7-1, went to see our good friends the Gaskills off at the airport (Rwanda bound!) and then Mike took me out for dinner. I had a coupon for one restaurant that ended up being out of business, so we went to Giannos...and it was very tasty:). Mike also bought me the book 1000 Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. It's a keeper. I can tell that much and I've only read a tiny bit. She focuses on gratitude and finding reasons to thank God no matter where you are or what circumstances you are in. As my regular readers know, this is an area of my life that I constantly need help in. Why is it that our natural inclination is to grumble and complain? I truly believe that "God lives in the praise of His people;" I have seen the evidence in my own life. When I consciously force myself to thank Him in the midst of trauma/difficulty, when I find reasons to praise Him regardless, I change, even when the circumstances don't. And this is what Mrs. Voskamp shows us....so pick up a copy at the library!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

I came home from a 12 hour shift today to find an email that I officially made it to the top 10 in the All You grocery challenge!! I am still pumped! When I found out that there were over 7000 entries last year and even more expected this year, I figured I didn't have a shot in the dark. So, to those who followed and cheered me on, thanks! I send in all my receipts tomorrow and will find out if I make the top 3 by August 5th, but either way, I am just totally stoked to have even made it this far. And tomorrow is my 43rd birthday...so happy birthday to me:)

Here's a look at the freebies I got on Tuesday:

The Soyjoy bar, Crest, Scope, floss and firearm safety video were mail freebies...the 2 tapas servers and sponge were free after that sweet $10/$10 coupon for Pier 1 (regularly $23.00...I paid a few cents in tax). Then I had coupons for free Phenom Coconut water, full size Pantene, & Lipton tea. The IAMS catfood was almost free after a $5.00 off coupon. The beautiful moth?? I found him deceased outside the Pier 1 store--for someone with a bug collection, it was like Christmas! (I know, I'm weird.) I LOVE this hobby!!

Yesterday, I helped my daughter set up her first checking account that included her life's savings and about $300 dollars more for her first college semester. She was feeling pretty excited ("reckless" was her word, actually) until she wrote the first two checks to her college. All of a sudden, looking up all her textbooks on http://www.half.com/ and going to Edward McKays to compare prices became very important to her. (Half.com won, by the way). I love it when the lightbulb comes on. When I went to bed last night, she was tallying her savings. That's my girl!

My boss gave me a b'day card today that said, "It's your birthday, do something CRAZY. Go to a restaurant without a coupon!" (Thanks, Jodi:) As you can see, I have a reputation. I also have a BOGO coupon for my birthday dinner tomorrow night.

God is so good and I am such a blessed woman. Thanks for reading, family and friends!

Monday, July 25, 2011

It's always nice when we've been on vacation to come home to a mailbox full freebies: Honey Nut Cheerios, new Glad Febreeze trash bag, Miracle Whip, can of Alpo (already used:),a coupon for free 8 pk Jif-to-go and full size Downy Unstoppables! The Downy was a http://www.vocalpoint.com/ freebie, and I highly recommend that you become a member if you aren't already. They have the best freebies out there, bar none.

If you haven't seen the deal yet, Office Max is once again offering 100% refund (with your max perks card---sign up for free online) on the purchase of one or even TWO backpacks! http://www.officemax.com/ (wait for the backpack ad to scroll by; good this week only). This is a really great deal, and since Staples has only 50% back this week, I'm guessing this might be as good as it's going to get this year. These are really high end backpacks, some retail for $130.00 or more! I did this last year and then used the money back to get ink for my printer and a new shredder. If you don't live near the store, shipping is free for orders over $50.00 online. I do this anyway to save on gas. Also, if you don't have an ebates account yet, go there first: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=94Ggv5UtRDNLQspdeKYU7Q%3D%3D and sign up for an account. You will get 3% of your total back. I love getting my checks from ebates...I go there first for all my online purchases! Also, if you are new to Ebates, you will get a $10.00 gift card just to sign up...good until 7/26.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Well, today is the last day of the All You Challenge and I'm really glad that I entered! At the beginning of the four weeks, I set four personal goals:

1. Spend, on average, only half of the allotted amount of $150.00. I ALMOST succeeded: My average was $78.00.
2. Find ways to make healthy changes without too many grumbles from four hearty teenagers who are all runners and very active. This was probably my biggest success, which makes me very happy! Some changes included: substituting water for sweetened drinks and having no dessert or fruit for dessert at the noon meal, buying pretzels or low fat tortillas/chips rather than my high fat weakness, buying lower fat alternatives for mayo, dressings white bread, and butter, baking healthier desserts from scratch (and using low fat ingredients, less sugar and whole wheat flour) instead of relying on cheap but unhealthy prepackaged items: rice pudding, carrot and pumpkin cakes, sugar free jello and angel food cake, and substituting whole wheat/grain bread for white bread.
3. Find ways to do all the month's regular activities without breaking the budget: This included a steak dinner on July 4th, two 2 day trips that required eating out, entertaining friends two times and providing produce for friends, having a birthday party for my son (14 guests!) and perhaps the most difficult-spending a week of vacation time, having some annual not-so-healthy treats (smores, red hotdogs, lobster) and STILL staying on budget. My goal was NOT to delete special things from our diet completely, but rather to eat healthy a majority of the time and then feel no guilt when it came time for treats!!4. Prove to myself and the naysayers that having teens doesn't mean you can't eat healthy foods on a budget.Kids live what they learn. Sure it's hard, but you can do anything you put your mind to!

As I mentioned in my blog, I did a victory dance when my kids told me after week 3 that they thought the challenge was already over and that they really hadn't noticed a big change--i.e. I was the one who thought it would be difficult, not them! My husband mentioned just today that he felt we were eating better for the last month. This is a huge success in my books!

When I first started down the road to saving money, I would find myself looking at other savers and would make excuses about why I couldn't do what they do, things like: She doesn't work outside the home; they don't have 4 teenagers, they have a pantry stockpile to fall back on, he has a garden, she uses coupons....you get the idea. Now, instead of making excuses, I ask myself , "Why can't I do that?" And I do. Sure, we live in the city, but we plant a little garden anyway. I don't have time to be an extreme couponer, but I have enough of a stockpile that I could survive for a week on what I have (and I pretty much did!) Yes, I work outside the home, and some weeks it gets a little hectic, but with planning, I can still have home cooked meals most nights. I have realized that excuses are just that, excuses. Maybe I have to turn off the TV for a couple of hours and bake a few things, or stop at an extra store on my way home, but I can make a difference in how my family eats. Now I also know that we can eat healthier for less, and I will continue on the journey. Thanks, All You, for giving me the motivation to take things a step further!!

Last day:
Breakfast: cheerios/oatmeal, coffee, OJ, milk
Lunch/Dinner: family reunion time! I provided a cake, baked beans, lemonade, and potato salad. The best part? My brother provided the lobster and steamed clams---ahhhhhh, what a way to finish the challnege! Thanks, bro:)

Friday, July 15, 2011

﻿I know, I know--you're sick of reading about how great Maine is, but honestly, isn't that sky gorgeous? (I was laying on my back on the shore of the lake when I took this picture.) Absolutely wonderful day; very little humidity and about 75 degrees. Of course, I miss my mom. I think of her often, but there is healing just in being here. Perhaps more thoughts on this later.

I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Day 27

Wow, can't believe that there is only one day left! I picked up a few groceries yesterday at Hannaford:2 cans of baked beans (easy way out, I know), "crystal light" style lemonade 6 pack (this equals about 35 cents for a 2 liter), 2 bags of Cape Cod chips (I got multi grain and lower fat varieties) 3# of clementines, cake mix for a picnic$15.00 Today I picked up a dozen still-warm -from-the-chicken-eggs from my neighbor for $2.00 and she threw in a pint of homemade strawberry jam to boot (thanks, Melissa!!) I found out the kids had bought some junk food when I wasn't around--two 12 packs of soda, some chips and some gummy worms. Even though this wasn't from my budget (they thought because they bought it it, I didn't have to count it; they actually felt badly after the fact: "We're not going to make you lose the challenge are we???") and even though I don't have a receipt, I'm going to liberally add $16.00 to my total...I think that's only fair, even though I don't think they spent that much.

This makes my weekly average for the 4 week challenge $78.00!! I'll be honest, my goal was to cut the allotted amount ($150.00) in half. If I wasn't adding in the kid's purchases, I would have made it at $74.00, but overall, I still feel very good about the month. Tomorrow I will write about my conclusions and thoughts for the whole chi-bang.

﻿I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Good Morning Blogger Friends! Absolutely loving my time here in Maine....here's a morning picture for you:

I am acutely aware that the Maine woods is not everyone's cup of tea. We have folks stay in our cabin all the time, and I can tell within 30 seconds what they really thought of the experience. My favorite question: What exactly do you DO there?? Well, what do you mean by that? You don't have to do anything at all, and that's what I like best! In a world filled with constant activity it's very nice to wake up and not have one thing on the agenda...at least that's my opinion. For the last two days, my interent connection has been sporadic--I have to say I was a little disappointed when it came up fine this morning.

And family. It's been so nice to see everyone. Yesterday my brother Doug and Cindi came by...she brought a jar of homemade blackberry jelly. I had to try a spoonful and oh man, was it good! Then in the evening we went to my brother Jerry's house. I brought all the ingredients to make a lasagna but forgot one thing: Mainers are sweltering with the 87 degree temps and my sister-in-law refused to let me use the oven! We had burgers on the grill. Saturday we are having a family reunion. Yes!

Today, we are going on our annual overnight camping trip to Mosquito Island, a tiny dot in the middle of Junior Lake, with nary so much as an outhouse. The whole island is maybe 120 feet long. Cooking is over an open fire pit, which limits what we bring. Again, more foods that I buy once a year:

Day 24(yesterday)Breakfast: french toast, sugar free syrup, milk, coffeeLunch: veggie mac and cheese (have you tried this yet? a serving of veggies in every serving of pasta...very good, my kids devoured it), ham, applesDinner: (compliments of my bro) burgers/dogs, veggie platter, sugar free carbonated lemonade (this was another new product try from Walmart, 68 cents for a 2 liter, about half the price of soda and none of the calories. There were about 5 different flavors, including pink, cherry and blueberry. Regular lemonade was a hit with my crew.) I made rice crispie squares after promising Judy that the microwave was all that was needed!

Day 25Breakfast: cheerios and/or fried eggs and toast, OJ, milk, coffeeLunch: grilled cheese on whole wheat, bananas, waterDinner: (on Mosquito Island tonight--pics tomorrow) hotdogs roasted on a stick, chips (this is the first bag of chips that I've bought during the entire challenge...a big deal for me because this is my weakness!), clementines, smores, water

Monday, July 11, 2011

Maine Church Suppers are an interesting phenomenon in that at any given supper, you will find that about half the folks present don't actually attend the church. Churches across the state have suppers for many different reasons: fellowship, outreach, benefits, weddings, not to mention hunter suppers, sportsman suppers, quilting suppers, and my personal all time favorite, bean hole bean suppers! But you get the idea--it's a community event. Such is the case at the Springfield Community Chapel, the church where I grew up. While most churches charge a nominal fee, the Chapel gets all the food from Good Shepherd's Food Bank and in turn hosts free dinners two times a month. I love going when I am home for the summer; I like to help and I like to see everyone...and the dinner is nice also:

Here, our wonderful Pastor, Bruce Swan, not only preaches but cooks and serves. Like many small town Pastors, he serves the community in many capacities including volunteer fire fighter and sled dog driver/breeder. Love you, Pastor Bruce!! Thanks for all you do for the people you love. You preached an awesome sermon yesterday too...I'm still chewing on it!

Spent some wonderful time on the lake in our "new" boat. 2 pairs of loons, a bald eagle and only one other boat on Junior. Here's a look at our boat (thanks Carl and Marge...you were here today also), the sunset on Duck and a path on the property we dream of owning:):

﻿I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

We arrived at our cabin in the great state of Maine last evening about 5:30...a 26 hour power trip; five hours longer than it normally takes. We did stop at a rest area to sleep for a couple of hours, but we managed to not stop at any fast food joints on the way! (OK, I think the kids did pick up a pack of gummy worms at a gas station, but I refused to pay...they used their own money...and they honestly haven't been doing this!!) I packed boiled eggs, ham, colby-jack cheese, pretzels, apples, apple sauce, oranges, buns, whole wheat chocolate chip cookies, water and a Sunny D type drink, and this managed to hold us over. Here's shot at a picnic area in Maine, after the food was mostly devoured. (You will notice Abby's basil plant in the little red cup. She brought it with her so she could nurse it along and use her basil! It obviously needed sun while we ate our lunch) ; the trash can just made me laugh...no dumpstah divin' he-ah:

﻿I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Day 21 (update) and 22

We had to stop in Lincoln to pick up just a few things. I like to see what I left behind last year for canned goods before I do a big shop, and one of the perks of letting people use our cabin is the food stuffs they leave behind when they know we are coming after them--so to the families that were here over the last few weeks, thanks for the cereal, ice cream/sugar cones, salad stuff, lemons, plums, half and half, OJ, eggs, condiments, Triscuits and whatever else I forgot to mention.

As I mentioned, there are things I buy in Maine that I wait all year to have. I seriously considered NOT entering this challenge for this very reason: extra money out and not the healthiest choices. But then I realized that every family must have certain traditions, and the goal (at least for me) is not to ban junk food completely, but to eat healthy the majority of the time so that special treats are even more special! Last night after we unpacked, I made our beloved red dogs--on toasted buns--and balanced it our with my homemade salsa and chips with milk. (I brought a box of NC tomatoes, cucumbers and summer squash with us!!):

My totals for week 3: ($41.00)

Groceries:

Walgreens: $2.00

WalMart: $10.00

Merita Bread Outlet: $4.00

Aldi: $18.00

Rite Aid: 42 cents (rounded $0.00)

Steaks and Stuff: $7.00

Eating Out: only freebies at Chick-fil-A ( I have a funny story to blog about with this...stay tuned:)

Friday, July 8, 2011

I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Day 20 and 21

We head out in about 2 hours for our trip to Maine...I'm soooooo excited! It's an interesting time to be completing this challenge as we will be on the road. I've packed a bunch of food for picnics. We'll see how it goes. Because we are hauling our boat, the trip will be even slower than the usual 21 hours, but that's fine with me. I doubt I'll get to a computer tomorrow, but the plan will be dinner tonight and breakfast/lunch tomorrow on the road. The adventure begins!!

Today we had sausage and toast for breakfast and then we all did the white trash bag with spots for cow costumes and scored $37.00 worth of free food at Chick-fil-A. What a great, generous store!! Thanks for lunch, Chick-fil-A.

Here's a shot of Lee with Mike at Camp Cherokee (on his way to Eagle!!):

Just a quick update, mostly for my own sake. Just in case you're worried that I'm filling your inbox too much, I won't be blogging daily once this challenge is over. I felt like today was a big victory when I mentioned that we we're almost done with the third week of the challenge and one of my kids said, "Oh, I thought it already ended." That means the subtle healthier changes I have been making are quite OK with the kidlets!!

Breakfast: cold cereal, milk, coffeeLunch: tuna on wheat, peaches, pretzelsDinner: Mike and I went to scout camp to visit Lee, so a picnic of ham and cheese with him. The older kids scrounged at home in the leftover section of the frig.

I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Day 18

So far, I've been doing pretty good with using up what we have and not shopping this week. My freezer and fridge are pathetically bare! I was hoping I could make it until we leave on Friday, but I'm going to run out of milk and will have to make a quick Aldi run. I'll also pick up a few items that are cheaper here than they are in Maine; I always take a few bags of groceries with me. We make our meals while we are there as we have our own cabin, so eating out is still rare. We do, however, buy certain treats every summer that only seem right in Maine: red hot dogs (with buns you can toast), whoopie pies, real maple syrup, steamers, blueberry coffee, and...of course...lobster!!

I have to admit, the not eating out is hitting us a little harder than I thought it would. I think the main reason for this is that it is summer, and we do tend to go out about once a week as a family during the summer months, even if it's just for sundaes at Mickey Ds. We'll get our chance on Friday though, with the Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A. The kids are already planning their costumes...

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

This morning I read an article in Time magazine by Bill Saporito in which he encouraged "the rich" (one had to assume he wasn't talking about himself, though I'm sure he's quite comfy, particularly as related to world salaries) to spend conspicuously. Consume, consume, consume so the rest of us can enjoy a little of your wealth--that was his basic message. Quit hoarding, quit saving, start hiring; but most of all, spend us out of this recession! By the time I was done reading, I was just a bit hot under the collar. Conspicuous consumption? Really, Bill?? Do you think that will solve the problem? I LOVE that people are saving more, spending less and learning to be happy with what they have. The rich are saving too much, says Bill? Well, perhaps that's why they are rich to start with. Do I think we should be greedy? No! But I disagree that the answer for America is to spend conspicuously. Keep saving...live BELOW your means, give generously as God directs...but spend just for the sake of spending. Oh, please.

That being said, here are a few deals for you:

Do you like New England Coffee?? I do! Their blueberry blend is my favorite, but I save it for a treat when I am in Maine. Right now they are offering a free iced-coffee tumbler for 4 UPC's from their products, no receipt required. Here's the form: http://www.newenglandcoffee.com/docs/TMI%202011_Form.pdf

"Like" PF Changs on facebook, and tomorrow, July 6th, they are going to post a coupon for free lettuce wraps. mmmm.

If you live by Chick-fil-A, don't forget that Friday is Cow Appreciation Day. Dress up head to toe like a cow and get a whole free meal...going on ALL day. If you wear a partial costume, you get a free entree. This will help with the All You challenge!! Friends of mine are "cowing" it all day and going to 3 different locations. Wow! Check out the details: http://www.cowappreciationday.com/

I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Day 17

Today I took my son to Walmart so he could pick up a few things, and I happened to walk by a display of Mountain Dew 4-pack bottles for $2.00, and a light bulb went off. When we drive to Maine, we go full-steam ahead. 21 hours of driving. We take turns and pull over if we get sleepy. But invariably, when we stop for gas, Mike buys an overpriced Dew because he likes it cold. Not this year! I won't be adding that to my grocery total. I bought the 4 pack and will keep it in the mini-cooler. Total; $2.00

I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

Today we also went to Carolina Thrift as they were having a half off everything sale. I picked up a bunch of school clothes--including a brand-new-with-tags pair of Chaps shorts and two pair of like new jeans and some hardbacked books which will serve as Christmas gifts. All told we got 19 items and I paid $37.00. The shorts alone had a new tagged price of $45.00!! Love those deals. Also picked up a bunch of lotion at 75% off at Bath and Body yesterday. The start of the Christmas stash.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Interesting passage from Isaiah 45 this morning in church. I always like to be reminded that God does what God wants to do:

I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar. Day 15I'm half way there in the All You Challenge...it seems to be going by quickly and I've had very few complaints from the fam. This Friday evening we head to Maine; we'll drive all night, arriving on Saturday afternoon. This will be a very tough week to stay on task. I'm already planning to pack both a picnic dinner and a picnic breakfast; with a little Providential blessing, we'll have a breakfast of muffins, cheese and boiled eggs on the Ogunquit Beach in the early morning. Might just have to cave and buy a cup of coffee somewhere. This has been very good for me, because it's caused me to rethink what is "needed" and what is superfluous. And guess what?? I buy LOTS of superfluous!!

On a bright note, I typically use this week (the week before we go to Maine) to officially clean out the freezer and frig and only buy what we "need." Of course, we do have a 4th of July celebration planned for tomorrow, and I'll need to pick up a few items for that, but not much else. It makes for interesting meals, but it's good to start over when we get back.

Today started with a little garden work...always good. As you can see, we have to "net" our tomatoes or the Mocking Birds wreck havoc with them. Also put in a second planting of beans, cukes and cantaloupe.

Made our first batch of homemade salsa, which illicited double fist pumps from the boys. Just chop tomatoes*, onions and cilantro* and then add hot sauce, lime juice and salt to taste. Be creative! Add mangos, or cukes or peaches....it's ALL good:0)

Crockpot granola roasted half the day (see my recipe section). I had a little coconut and chopped figs to add.

Banana muffins to use up the last of the bananas in the freezer. I used half whole wheat flour and got the batter in the muffin cups before I realized I'd forgoten to add the sugar. No one even noticed!

Whole wheat chocolate chunk walnut cookies...mmmmm.

Had to go to Walmart to pick up Mike's wedding ring (long story), so I grabbed 2 boxes of veggie pasta, a dozen eggs and a bag of tortillas for the salsa. Total after coupons: $4.00

Friday, July 1, 2011

When I was pregnant, I was frequented with UTIs (urinary tract infections) to the point of distraction. It drove me crazy! I'm not a big water drinker, and you'd think I'd learn my lesson, but some habits are hard to come by. One older lady I know who had trouble with this told me that she takes cranberry tablets and drinks 8 glasses of water every day and has never had a problem since...but just in case...stock up on the following items and try this before doing the go-to your-doctor-and-start-an-antibiotic-which-then-causes-a-yeast-overload-routine:

I have seen several different combinations and time frames for this remedy but the following has worked well for me. I'm not a doctor, so please use this as a dislclaimer if this doesn't work out for you!!

The 8 Hour UTI Cure:

Hour One: Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in water and drink.

Hour Two: Drink 8 oz of unsweetened cranberry juice and take two cranberry tablets with a glass of water.

Hour Three: Make "parsley tea": boil a cup of water and steep about a teaspoon of parsley in eat. Drain the leaves and drink.

Hour Five: Take an alka seltzer tablet in water, followed in 30 minutes by 2 more cranberry tablets and a glass of water.

Hour Six: Eat a clove of garlic OR take 2 garlic tablets OR take a teaspoon of pure garlic juice and a glass of water.

Hour Seven: Drink one more glass of unsweetened cranberry juice followed by a glass of water with 1 tsp of vinegar in it.

Hour Eight: Drink another glass of water with 1 tsp of baking soda in it.

By now, if you are not feeling better, I would head to the doctor:(!! If you are feeling better, continue to take 2 cranberry tablets a day with at least two glasses of water for as long as you like. It won't hurt to keep eating the yogurt either.

I will be updating daily on the All You Grocery Challenge, which runs June19- July16. The Challenge: spend only $25 per person per week or less ($150.00 for my crew) to feed your family, including eating out...but do so in a creative, healthy way. An * denotes our own garden food; (parentheses indicate healthy changes.) Winner gets $1000 and a write up in ALL YOU magazine! Please know that for grocery purchase totals, I round to the nearest dollar.

My kids LOVE goulash. Some ways that I have found to make it healthier are using whole wheat pasta, and cutting back on the meat or serving it meatless. They like it no matter how it's done. (My mom called this a 'macaroni feed.')

I worked a half day today, then a home haircut for Mike. Looking good:) Then off to run some errands tonight. It should be obvious that my shopping is sporadic. Generally I do one "big" shop a week at Aldi, but I have had a strange week of being around stores I don't normally check out, so Aldi can wait until next week!